A man from Bristol said he thinks an Asian hornet, which the Government have called on people to report if they see, flew into his dad's flat in Bristol.
Sam Rees sent us pictures of the insect which came into his dad's flat in Henbury, Bristol on Saturday.
The insects were first spotted in Guernsey last month and are slowly spreading across the whole UK, reported Plymouth Live.
Although this species of hornet is native to Asia, it can also be found in other countries and it is quite an invasive species.
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However, some insect experts have said reports about the threat posed by the species have been sensationalised.
In April, officials in the US asked members of the public to report sightings of the hornet, warning the species could destroy bee populations if it became established in the country.
Many local beekeepers' associations across the South West have warned members to keep a watchful eye for this invasive predator.
There is an ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app available to download and you can report sightings by email or on the non-native Species Secretariat wesbite (see details below).
With the insects now in the British Isles, experts are calling on the public to report any sightings.
Nicola Spence, chief plant health officer, said: “By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.
“While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than a bee, we recognise the damage they can cause to honey bee colonies and other beneficial insects.
"Please continue to look out for any Asian hornets and if you think you’ve spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian hornet app or online.”
How to spot an Asian Hornet
According to the UK government, Asian hornets:
- have a dark brown or black velvety body
- have a yellow or orange band on fourth segment of abdomen
- have yellow tipped legs
- are smaller than the native European hornet
- are not active at night
How to report an Asian hornet
If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet you should report this using the ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app:
You can also report sightings by email: alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.
The UK government website explains: "Please include information on location, date and number of Asian hornets you have seen. Please also include a photo if you can to help our experts identify the insect."
Alternatively, you can fill out an online report form
The website added: "If you find a nest, don’t try to remove it yourself – it can be dangerous and should only be done by experts."
Meanwhile, a man earlier this week was stung by an Asian hornet while trying to deal with a nest near his home in Spain.
The 54-year-old from Villestro, in north-western Spain, was a keen beekeeper and kept his own hive.
Local reports say he had been trying to deal with a wasp nest that was close to the beehive when he was stung.
The man was stung near his eyebrow and the injury proved fatal.
